Comments

MLB Picks

Free MLB Picks: Back Rangers At +131 vs. Under-Achieving Blue Jays

The Rangers visit the under-achieving Blue Jays in the first game of their set. Major motivator for the Rangers in this game is playoff revenge, but will they make it? MLB pick inside.

Texas Rangers (Griffin) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (Dickey)
The 14-11 Texas Rangers visit the 12-14 under-achieving Toronto Blue Jays in the first game of their early week set. First pitch is set for 7:05 ET in the Rogers Centre. Major motivator for the Rangers in this game is playoff revenge from last October’s series loss to the Blue Jays. Highlighting that Toronto victory was the “bat flip” by Bautista, as he paused just a moment too long, before flipping his bat defiantly following his towering homerun. Psychological edge to the Rangers, who also have the pitching advantage in this matchup!

Before we talk about that story, let’s relay the fact that the Blue Jays have a meager (by their standards) .709 OPS, which ranks 15th in the league and very close to the statistical average for all MLB teams. It is meaningful that the Rangers .713 OPS is indeed a bit better than the host. But, the big edge in this matchup comes in the pitching.

Veteran knuckleballer, R. A. Dickey, has yet to find his form this season. His record is 1-3 with a whopping 6.75 ERA and .882 OPS to match. His last 2 outings from this mound have seen Dickey work 11 IP while getting lit up for 13 runs and 16 hits. We want no part of him in this matchup today!

That brings us to the underrated Griffin for Texas, who after sitting out the 2015 season on the injured list for the Oakland A’s, has begun this year with a record of 3-0 and a 2.52 ERA. That is backed up by a .596 OPS, a true indicator that his work has been for real. His last start showed 8 IP of work in which he allowed 1 run on just 4 hits in a 10-1 victory vs. NYY. Equally impressive is his record against the Blue Jays. In 4 appearances Griffin is 2-0 with a 2.66 ERA.

Betting Analysis
A pair of solid elements comes together in what can only be termed your MLB UNDERDOG OF THE DAY. The Rangers will surely be psyched to get their revenge over their playoff conquerors of last year. Griffin over Dickey on the mound, with virtually equal batting and bullpen, gives us a solid edge at this underdog price. I invite you to put the MLB odds in your favor and join me in my MLB picks on the Texas Rangers tonight.